ARLINGTON — Nearly two months after its plaques ceremony for the Washington State Historic Register and the National Register of Historic Places, the Trafton Elementary School was honored by the Snohomish County Historic Preservation Commission June 17 in the Arlington City Council Chambers.

“Each year, the Historic Preservation Commission recognizes one outstanding historic preservation project with the award of a certificate of commendation,” said Brent Lambert, senior grants analyst for the Snohomish County Office of Economic Development.

Trafton Elementary Principal Ed Aylesworth accepted the certificate, but credited Trafton Parent Teacher Club Co-Chairs Valerie Kellogg and Anne Yeckley with spearheading the past five years’ work on behalf of the school.

“What makes this project so unique is that it came from parents and was completed by parents,” said Arlington School District Deputy Superintendent Warren Hopkins, who also cited the involvement of Loren Kraetz, retired ASD teacher and historic preservation commissioner for District 1 in Arlington.

“If not for the grass-roots efforts of the community, this school would not even be here,” Kraetz said.

Kraetz asked if there had been any forward movement on proposed plans for an additional building to accommodate Trafton’s students, and Aylesworth said that talks regarding those plans were still ongoing.

“Val’s not here because there’s a facilities meeting going on tonight as well and one of the projects under consideration is improving Trafton,” Hopkins said.

Aylesworth reported that initial estimates place the cost of such improvements at approximately $1.5 million.